Unspun

As of 9:30pm Detik.com reports that the toll road to the airport is still flooded by up to one meter, while the public works department blames the flood on the drainage system that isn’t working properly. Duh.

Kompas Cyber Media reports that hundreds of Garuda passengers are stranded in Changi Airport in Singapore because they  cannot fly back to Jakarta. It also said, at 10.46pm that thousands of passengers are still stranded at Sukarno-Hatta Airport as they cannot return home because of the floods.

In the meantime here’s a short release from HOPE international at about 10pm tonight:

February 1 continues as Flood Day for Jakarta, Indonesia

Experts estimated El Nino effect the penta-flooding (once every five years)
in 2007, but history turned it around. February 1, 2008 Jakarta is
underwater in only a few hours of rain. One year ago, exactly on the same
day, the big flood took place just Like February 1, 2001. When residents
wake up this morning, some areas had water was as high as 2 meters. Most of
12 millions residents in the metropolitan were trapped while travelling to
work; the city traffic was a mess all day long, even until 22:45 pm.

Charles Ham, HOPE worldwide’s country director for Indonesia, reported that
his house was knee-high as of 10am February 2008 and needed to evacuate his
family. The situation has not changed but worsen at 22:45pm as many
volunteers and staffs are also experiencing the same condition.

Called for action, HOPE worldwide Indonesia has secured 5 rubber boats and
some small amount of supplies to prepare for disaster relief actions
starting tomorrow. The DARTs (Disaster Awareness & Relief Teams) trained
are prepared to bring hope and change lives as the need arise.

Please keep Jakarta in your prayers as climate change is impacting the
capital of Indonesia!

For additional information or supporting the Flood Relief, please contact :

Charles M. Ham, country director, HOPE worldwide – Indonesia
Gedung Putera Lt 7, Jl. Gunung Sahari 39, Jakarta 10720 – Indonesia
Telp: 62-21-600-9091, Fax: 62-21-601-0570, Website: Http://id.hopeww.org
Cellphone: 62-816-183-4574